Context awareness in construction management - key issues & enabling technologies

Abstract

The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is critical in managing construction projects as the right information needs to be delivered to the right person, at the right time, and at the right place. This paper reviews the challenges and issues in the delivery of information in construction management and explores how context-aware computing can help in managing information and services in a construction project. The key issues in context-awareness in construction management are discussed and the enabling information and communication technologies described. The context of a user (such as role, location, time, preference, etc) may be utilised to provide personalised information. Wireless communication technologies allow computing and communication devices to be used virtually anywhere in delivering information and services. The discussion in the paper focuses on the potential application of context-aware computing in construction management using wireless devices. Conclusions are drawn about the possible implementation of these emerging context-aware computing technologies for Construction Programme Managers.